RNLI lifeguards in multi-agency cliff rescue of woman and her dog

The woman had been out walking with her dog on the afternoon of Saturday 23 September on cliffs between beaches at Perranporth and Perran Sands when the incident happened.

Lifeguard Jago Griffiths had been carrying out patrols when he noticed the lady and her dog part way down the cliff and unable to get back to the top.

He said: ‘I shouted up to the lady to stay still and not move before radioing senior lifeguard Josh Walters at Perran Sands. Falmouth Coastguard was called for further assistance and lifeguards patrolling beaches at Perranporth and Perran Sands were involved in keeping interested members of the public at bay. We were able to reassure the woman before St Agnes Coastguard Rescue Team arrived.’

Senior Lifeguard at Perranporth James Kirton made his way to the top of the cliff to help guide the coastguard team using radio and hand signals with the lifeguards on the ground.

Lifeguard Supervisor Frazer Thompson-Hewitt said: ‘With lifeguards diverted to the cliff rescue the decision was made to shut the beach at Perran Sands for a brief period, with a lifeguard vigilant at the water’s edge. The coastguard team were able to bring the woman and her dog to safety and assisted her, with lifeguards, down to Perranporth beach via the steps where she was reunited with her partner.’

The RNLI’s advice to dog walkers to keep themselves safe is:

- Keep your dog on a lead if you are close to cliff edges or fast flowing rivers

- If your dog goes into water or gets stuck in mud, don’t go after them. Move to a place your dog can get to safety and call them

- If you are worried about your dog call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard

Note to editors

· St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team have photographs of the rescue

· Interviews available on request

· You can find your nearest RNLI lifeguarded beach by using our tool here: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches

· Lifeguard patrols at Perran Sands (10am – 6pm) end on October 1.

· There are daily lifeguard patrols (10am – 6pm) at Perranporth beach until October 1 and patrols at weekends and bank holidays only during October 7 – 15. A lifeguard service will run daily throughout the October half term 21-29 October.

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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